Mohamed Salah named in final Egypt World Cup squad

CAIRO: Mohamed Salah is set to play some part in the World Cup after he was named in Egypt’s official squad.
Salah’s participation was cast into major doubt when he was withdrawn injured in the first half of the Champions League final defeat by Real Madrid in Kiev on May 26.
The Egyptian walked off the pitch in tears and there was a fear the injury to his left shoulder would keep him out of the showpiece tournament in Russia.
But a Liverpool physio said last week that he expects Salah to be sidelined for “between three and four weeks," meaning he could be fit for the key game with Saudi Arabia on June 25.
The Liverpool forward was optimistic about his recovery when posting on social media on Sunday.
“Good feelings... ,” Salah said on his official Twitter account along with a picture of him at the gym.
Salah missed Egypt’s goalless draw with Colombia last Friday as the North Africans continue their World Cup preparations.
Egypt play Belgium in their final warm-up game on Wednesday before opening their World Cup campaign against Group A rivals Uruguay on June 15. Hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia also compete in the same group.
Egypt’s squad includes 15 foreign-based players, most notably Salah, Mohamed Elneny, Mahmoud Trezeguet, Ramadan Sobhi, Ahmed Hegazi and Abdallah El-Said.
The eight Egypt-based players are Al Ahly’s Sherif Ekramy, Mohamed El-Shennawy, Ayman Ashraf, Ahmed Fathi Saad Samir, Marwan Mohsen, and Zamalek’s Mahmoud Hamdy El-Wensh and Tarek Hamed.

For the past 18 months both sides have struggled for goals. Under Alberto Zaccheroni the UAE scored just 10 goals in the past nine matches — five of those coming against lowly Kyrgyzstan and India — and likewise the Green Falcons have also struggled to find the back of the net. Heading toward the World Cup qualifiers, now is the time to find those scoring boots.

PUT ON A SHOW

Both sides have technically gifted players, can keep the ball and at times trouble opposition defenses. But both have been too defensive, too safety-first and, at times, too dull. Football is supposed to be entertainment, and the friendlies ahead of the World Cup qualifiers might be no bad time to throw caution to the wind and see what the players can do in the final third.

SET THE TONE

As the modern cliche goes, a week is a long time in football. With all the sackings and player movements, it is not hard to see the kernel of truth in that overused saying. But, conversely, time can also move very fast in the “Beautiful Game.” It may be six months before the World Cup qualifiers begin, but it will be September before the coaches and players know it. Set the tone and tactics now and triumphs will be easier to come by then and, more importantly, further into the future.